Author Bridget Hamilton Inspires Aspiring Rowlands Gill Writers
Pupils from Rowlands Gill Primary School have stepped into the world of local history, nature and storytelling. They worked with published author Bridget Hamilton over a series of creative days inspired by three sites along the Tyne Derwent Way.
Bridget, an experienced facilitator who has worked with schools and community groups across the North East, led creative sessions with Years 4, 5 and 6, encouraging pupils to explore local heritage through stories and poetry. Formerly a Gateshead resident and now based in Washington, Bridget shared her passion for storytelling just days before the publication of her debut young adult novel, We Wait for the Stars.
Year 4 pupils delved into the fascinating history of Dunston Staiths. Using a range of historical sources, including photographs by renowned photographer Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, the children explored the Staiths' role in the coal industry, its decline and the ongoing efforts to preserve the structure. Building on their previous visit to Beamish Museum, pupils made connections between the Staiths and the region's rich mining heritage, bringing the site and its workers vividly to life through their writing.
Year 5 travelled back in time to Victorian Pipewellgate, discovering how the once-crowded industrial riverside has been transformed into today's Riverside Park. Learning about factory work, overcrowded housing and life along the river, pupils imagined what the area might have looked, sounded and smelled like in the nineteenth century. They also explored the park's striking public artworks, including sculptures by artists such as Colin Rose and Lulu Quinn, using them as inspiration for imaginative journeys through time.
Meanwhile, Year 6 turned their attention to Gibside, exploring both its remarkable history and its thriving natural environment. The pupils learned about influential figures connected to the estate, including Mary Eleanor Bowes and her son John, whose tree-planting programme helped shape the landscape visitors enjoy today. Inspired by the wildlife that now flourishes at Gibside, the children transformed themselves into trees, red kites and other creatures, creating vivid poems and stories that celebrated this special place.
Read a selection of the pupils' poems and stories and discover the Tyne Derwent Way through the eyes of Rowlands Gill's young writers.
Read the pupils poems and stories
